Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter

Meet Some of the Staff

Amelia (Amy) Michaud has been our Shelter Manager since November 2012, and was employed at the shelter for three years prior to that. While she is originally from southern New England, Amy has been residing in VT for over 12 years. With a long time interest in working with animals, she gained experience in animal care and behavior by working for several years as a veterinarian assistant and a kennel/ grooming assistant. In addition to college courses completed in Connecticut, Amy successfully completed course requirements of Animal Behavior College and holds a certification in dog training. Amy feels that her work at PMFAS is right for her as she enjoys working with both animals and people. It’s interesting and fascinating to help match up the right animal with the right human. She sums it up this way, “Working at the shelter brings both animal and people relations together!”

Toni Rushlow started volunteering at PMFAS in December 2010 and continued that volunteer work for some five years until she came aboard as a staff member in September 2015. Raised right here in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Toni appreciates the beauty of this rural area and enjoys walking her three large dogs along local trails and fields. Not showing partiality to dogs, Toni’s household also includes five cats! Learning from Amy and from increasing experience, Toni has become very knowledgeable and skilled in handling the furry felines and canines at the shelter. “There’s never a dull moment and every day is different,” explains Toni. “And while you may never know exactly how the day will go, one thing is for sure – the animals respond well to love, attention and routine. It’s great to help them become more socialized and find their forever homes.”

With a strong combination of dedication, commitment, knowledge of animal care, and lots of love for all the animals, Amy and Toni are a fine team at the shelter. Together with the skills and talents of other staff and many volunteers who help out on a regular basis, it’s clear that the health and welfare of all the dogs and cats at PMFAS are a top priority. Thank you to staff and volunteers for all you do!